Land of Waves Mission Prelude (Hitching a Ride Plan)

Early morning, Konoha.

Ye Tian walked down the corridor with the tip of his nose still red. The impact from last night's "suicide-style Divine Movement Talisman" had yet to completely fade.

Though this mortal body had not yet adapted to such violent acceleration, the thought of the dungeon about to open made him feel the crash had been worth it.

He had found a crucial piece of information in the system intel: Team 7 had accepted an escort mission to the Land of Waves.

"The Land of Waves..."

Ye Tian licked his dry lips.

To ordinary shinobi, it was a slaughterhouse ruled by vicious rogue ninjas like Zabuza; but to him, it was practically an open-air gold mine.

The Kubikiribōchō could absorb blood to repair itself. It was premium blood-refining divine iron, and melting it down to forge a flying-sword foundation would save him decades of nurturing work. On top of that, the water spiritual energy over there was dense, making the chances of finding a Water Spirit Pearl extremely high.

"I'm definitely catching this ride."

The Hokage Building, mission assignment office.

Before he even entered, Naruto's roar, loud enough to lift the roof, came from inside. "I don't want to catch cats or pull weeds! I want the kind of mission where we run into bad guys, something super awesome and cool!"

Inside the office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took a hard pull on his pipe. He looked like an old father ready to retire on the spot after being pestered by a brat.

Knock, knock.

A bout of gut-wrenching coughing entered before he did. Ye Tian clutched the doorframe, his face as white as a freshly painted wall. Every step he took seemed to consume what remained of his lifespan.

"Ye Tian." The Third's gaze softened slightly.

"Lord Hokage... cough, cough. I heard Naruto and the others are going to the Land of Waves?" Ye Tian swayed, looking as though he were about to collapse.

"That is the plan. What is it?"

Ye Tian suddenly dropped to one knee—though only slightly, careful not to pull the leg he had injured in yesterday's crash. With a desolate expression, he looked at the Third. "Lord Hokage, my body... I was born with 'fire toxin' attacking my heart. I checked the ancient texts. The Land of Waves has a kind of 'deep-sea blue flame grass' that can save my life. If I don't go, I'm afraid I won't survive the winter."

He had made up the herb on the spot, but none of the shinobi present knew traditional Chinese medicine, much less obscure remedies from the cultivation world.

Naruto was the first to explode. With red-rimmed eyes, he shouted, "Old man! Let Big Brother Ye Tian go! If you don't, you'll be a murderer!"

Kakashi closed Icha Icha Paradise, his dead-fish eyes filled with cold rationality. "I disagree. A C-rank mission means there may be combat. Bringing along a patient who needs oxygen just to walk will increase the risk of the entire team being wiped out."

Tazuna, reeking of alcohol, chimed in with a complaint. "I don't have the money to feed another useless burden. That kid looks more fragile than my liquor bottle."

Ye Tian did not panic. Calmly, he took a bottle of concentrated spirit spring water from his robes and pulled out the stopper.

An exotic fragrance instantly burst forth, like a fresh forest rain falling directly into everyone's nostrils.

"I can make top-tier medicinal cuisine. It can instantly restore stamina and heal minor internal injuries. And..." Ye Tian glanced at Tazuna.

"I'll cover all the food expenses."

"Gulp." Naruto swallowed loudly.

Tazuna's eyes lit up as well. "As long as I don't have to pay, I have no objection to having another cook."

Kakashi gave the little bottle in Ye Tian's hand, which radiated astonishing life energy, a long look but said nothing more.

The Third Hokage puffed on his pipe for a while before making the final decision. "We'll make an exception this once. Ye Tian will accompany you as an external member, but all his actions must follow Kakashi's command."

"Yes! Thank you, Lord Hokage!" Ye Tian was ecstatic, though he still had to put on a fit of violent coughing. He also casually smeared a trace of blood from the tip of his tongue onto his handkerchief.

"Yeah! Great!" Naruto leaped up excitedly and threw an arm around Ye Tian's neck.

"Cough... Easy. I'm about to fall apart..."

From one corner of the group, Uchiha Sasuke snorted. "Bringing along deadweight who can barely walk will only lower the mission's success rate. I hope you don't die in front of me when the time comes. I won't have time to save you."

Ye Tian gave him a gentle smile.

Uchiha Sasuke, once you awaken your eyes and see how I 'borrow' Zabuza's sword for a little fun, I hope you can still look that cool.

Half an hour later, at Konoha's gate.

Ye Tian carried a bamboo basket larger than himself on his back and slowly followed behind the group. The basket was filled with pots, bowls, ladles, and "medicinal herbs."

He touched the spare Divine Movement Talisman stuck to the inside of his pant leg.

"Land of Waves dungeon, begin."

"This time, I have to make sure the brakes hold."